Full coverage of the City Hall corruption case in federal court

Kilpatrick frat bro to confront ex-mayor this week in deal with feds

Kwame Kilpatrick’s longtime friend and former assistant is expected to testify against the former mayor this week about being forced to kickback money from a city pension deal.

Kilpatrick allegedly ordered Marc Andre Cunningham to pay at least $15,000 to the mayor’s father Bernard from 2006 to 2007, according to prosecutors. The kickback was in return for the mayor’s support of a pension fund deal.

The money came out of Cunningham’s commission on a $30 million loan involving two Detroit pension funds, prosecutors allege.

From the indictment:

“In or about the Summer of2006, at a restaurant in Detroit, KWAME KILPATRICK, through one of his high-level aides, directed Cunningham to pay BERNARD KILPATRICK a portion of the commissions Cunningham received from a venture capital firm (“the Firm”) for Cunningham’s assistance obtaining a $30 million investment… KWAME KILPATRICK was present when Cunningham was told to make these payments.”

On Oct, 4, 2006, Cunningham gave Bernard Kilpatrick at least $4,000 cash during a meeting at City Hall.

Bernard Kilpatrick sits behind his son during Kwame’s sentencing on state charges in 2008.

Again, from the indictment:

“It was understood between Cunningham and KWAME KILPATRICK that this and future payments were to be made to BERNARD KILPATRICK to reward KWAME KlLPATRICK for his support of the…investments and to obtain favorable treatment by KWAME KILPATRICK in any future business that might arise between Cunningham and the City of Detroit.”